Chapter 53

【Prologue】

In the year Noah met Claudia, when Claudia was still six years old, she once spoke while resting her head on Noah's lap.

"......A curse is, in a way, a strong wish."

"Wish?"

At the time, nine-year-old Noah asked, and Claudia blinked sleepily.

The fireplace in front of the chaise lounge crackled with the sound of sparks. Despite Noah's suggestion that she sleep in a proper bed, Claudia insisted on staying by the warm fireplace, and Noah ended up serving as her pillow.

This lord is sometimes more childish than Noah. However, her soul is eighteen years old, and above all, she is a legendary witch.

Despite her innocent appearance, she often shows an expression that takes one's breath away with its maturity.

"Yes,"

Claudia murmured softly, half-asleep.

"For example, wanting to gain a lot of profit. Wanting to make someone you love yours. ...Wanting to kill someone you hate..."

"..."

What Noah remembered was his uncle.

The uncle who hated and killed his father chose Noah as a substitute for his revenge.

The slave contract imposed by his uncle, according to Claudia, is one of the curses.

Noah reached out and touched Claudia's milk tea-colored hair.

It was more of a role as a servant than soothing a small child. If Claudia continued to sleep on Noah's lap, her fine hair would become tangled.

While gently stroking her hair, Noah asked,

"Isn't what you're saying more like desire than a wish?"

At this, Claudia's half-closed eyes opened, and she looked at Noah with a chuckle.

"A wish is, without a doubt, a desire."

"..."

"Does Noah still feel they are separate things? ...Yawn..."

Feeling as if he was being told that he didn't understand because he was a child, Noah pouted openly at the time.

Looking back now, pouting then was childish. Claudia probably laughed even more because it was funny.

"A curse has a wish at its core."

"......Even the empress who tried to kill you using her daughter?"

"Yes. In a sense, it was a pure, transparent wish."

Claudia is lenient towards those who try to harm her. However, from Noah's perspective, it's not something he can tolerate.

"If you had really been killed, I would have cursed the empress too."

"Noah is fine. You are straightforward, strong, and always aim for the light."

"......Princess"

"Hehe"

Claudia smiled cheerfully and touched Noah's cheek with her small hand.

"---Remember this, Noah."

Claudia spoke in a voice softened by sleep.

"When a person's wish is broken, it leads to a curse. ...Curses are made of what was once called wishes---..."

"......"

As Claudia's hand slowly moved away, her peaceful breathing began.

"If someone's wish turns into a curse and harms you,"

Noah touched Claudia's cheek and whispered softly.

"...No matter what the wish is, I will break it."

This was the vow he made two years ago.

In other words, two years have passed since Noah met Claudia.

Curses still show their traces here and there in the world, and Noah and Claudia repeatedly go to the sites of these curses and destroy them.

"You've become even stronger, Noah."

Now eight years old, Claudia still looks younger than her age and tells Noah, "Good boy," with a smile.

"---This is far from enough."

Holding a sword created by magic, Noah replied. Claudia's tone is still like that of praising a child.

(...I will definitely become strong enough to protect you.)

While repeating this in his heart, Noah followed Claudia and began to walk.

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